Vegetation gradient on the shores of Lake Nasser in Egypt

The paper, a synthesis based on data generated by our own investigation on Stipa baicalensis steppe for the period 1986–1988, deals with the relationships among biotic and abiotic factors at community ecology level. Analysis is placed on aboveground net primary production (ANPP), the energy source for livestock production process, and on accumulated temperature (5°C) (X₁), rainfall during the growing season of the steppe plants (X₂), and content of organic matter of surface soil (X₃), the abiotic variables most often used to explain variation in ANPP.The models predicting ANPP in Stipa baicalensis steppe were structured in terms of X₁, X₂, and X₃. The predictive power of the models was found to be very high, and the models were successfully validated in three cases with an independent data set.The prediction model that gave the best fitting in Stipa baicalensis steppe was% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbqfgBHr% xAU9gimLMBVrxEWvgarmWu51MyVXgaruWqVvNCPvMCG4uz3bqefqvA% Tv2CG4uz3bIuV1wyUbqee0evGueE0jxyaibaieYlf9irVeeu0dXdh9% vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFf0-OqFfea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea% 0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr0-vqpWqaaeaabiGaciaacaqabe% aadaabauaaaOabaeqabaGaaeywaiaabIcacaWG4bGaaiykaiabg2da% 9iaaiwdacaaIYaGaaGioaiaac6cacaaIXaGaaG4maiaaikdacaaI4a% Gaey4kaSIaaGymaiaaikdacaGGUaGaaGymaiaaiMdacaaI0aGaaGio% aiaadIhadaWgaaWcbaGaaGymaaqabaGccqGHRaWkcaaI4aGaaGOmai% aac6cacaaI1aGaaG4naiaaicdacaaIXaGaaGimaiaaicdacaaIXaGa% amiEamaaBaaaleaacaaIYaaabeaakiabgUcaRiaaiwdacaaI3aGaai% OlaiaaigdacaaI5aGaaGioaiaaiEdacaWG4bWaaSbaaSqaaiaaioda% aeqaaOGaey4kaSIaaGymaiaaikdacaGGUaGaaGOnaiaaiodacaaI3a% GaaGynaiaadIhadaWgaaWcbaGaaGymaaqabaGccaWG4bWaaSbaaSqa% aiaaikdaaeqaaOGaeyOeI0IaaGOnaiaac6cacaaIXaGaaGOmaiaaiA% dacaaI1aGaamiEamaaBaaaleaacaaIXaaabeaakiaadIhadaWgaaWc% baGaaG4maaqabaaakeaacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiai% aabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGRaGa% aeOmaiaabIdacaqGUaGaaeimaiaabIdacaqG3aGaaeynaiaadIhada% WgaaWcbaGaaGOmaaqabaGccaWG4bWaaSbaaSqaaiaaiodaaeqaaOGa% aeylaiaabodacaqG2aGaaeOlaiaabgdacaqG3aGaae4naiaabsdaca% WG4bWaa0baaSqaaiaaigdaaeaacaaIYaaaaOGaaeylaiaabccacaqG% ZaGaaeymaiaab6cacaqG0aGaaeinaiaabkdacaqG5aGaamiEamaaDa% aaleaacaaIYaaabaGaaGOmaaaakiaab2cacaqGYaGaaeOnaiaab6ca% caqGYaGaaeOnaiaabodacaqGZaGaamiEamaaDaaaleaacaaIZaaaba% GaaGOmaaaaaaaa!9ED0!\[\begin{gathered} {\text{Y(}}x) = 528.1328 + 12.1948x_1 + 82.5701001x_2 + 57.1987x_3 + 12.6375x_1 x_2 - 6.1265x_1 x_3 \hfill \\ {\text{ + 28}}{\text{.0875}}x_2 x_3 {\text{ - 36}}{\text{.1774}}x_1^2 {\text{ - 31}}{\text{.4429}}x_2^2 {\text{ - 26}}{\text{.2633}}x_3^2 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \]We have also made, in detail, the analysis of the relationships among ANPP and 3 ecological factors above variables. ANPP was responsive to all of 3 ecological factors discussed in the paper. Action intensity, which has an effect upon ANPP, can be indicated by a contribution rate. The contribution rates of X₁, X₂, and X₃ were 1.069, 2.0513 and 1.8889, respectively.This paper not only discussed profoundly the relationships among ANPP and X₁, X₂, and X₃, but also studied exhaustively effects of the interactions X₁, X₂, and X₃, on ANPP.     

The influence of water level on the growth and photosynthesis of Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L.fil.

Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L.fil.), a native to North America and naturalized in Central and South America, is an invasive aquatic weed in western Europe and several other regions worldwide. H. ranunculoides settles primarily in stagnant to slow-flowing waters (e.g. ditches, canals, rivers, lakes and ponds). The species prefers sunny and nutrient-rich sites and forms dense interwoven mats, which can quickly cover the surface of infested waters. In this study, the effect of three different water levels on growth of Floating Pennywort was investigated. Plants were cultivated on high-nutrient soils under waterlogged, semi-drained and drained conditions. Highest relative growth rates (RGR) of 0.097±0.004 g g⁻¹ dw d⁻¹ were reached under waterlogged conditions. This was significantly higher than RGR of plants cultivated semi-drained and drained. Floating Pennywort showed some phenological adaptations to drained soil conditions, including significant differences in the relative amounts of leaf, petiole and shoot biomass, whilst the relative amount of root biomass was not significantly influenced by the water level. Furthermore, Floating Pennywort reached under drained conditions lower relative water contents (RWC) of leaves, petioles and shoots, a significant shorter length of internodes, a significant lower extent of shoot porosity (POR), a lower chlorophyll content and an increased Chl_a:Chl_b ratio. In addition, maximum gas exchange of drained cultivated plants is significantly lower, due to strongly decreased leaf conductance under reduced water availability. Overall, H. ranunculoides showed ability to grow under different water levels, but performed best under waterlogged conditions.     

Development of net energy intake models for drift-feeding juvenile coho salmon and steelhead

We developed models to predict the effect of water velocity on prey capture rates and on optimal foraging velocities of two sympatric juvenile salmonids, coho salmon and steelhead. Mean fish size was ~80 mm, the size of age I+ coho and steelhead during their second summer in Southeast Alaska streams, when size overlap suggests that competition might be strongest. We used experimentally determined prey capture probabilities to estimate the effect of water velocity on gross energy intake rates, and we modeled prey capture costs using experimental data for search and handling times and published models of swimming costs. We used the difference between gross energy intake and prey capture costs to predict velocities at which each species maximized net energy intake rate. Predicted prey capture rates for both species declined from ~75 to 30–40 prey/h with a velocity increase from 0.30 to 0.60 m·s⁻¹. We found little difference between coho and steelhead in predicted optimum foraging velocities (0.29 m·s⁻¹ for coho and 0.30 m·s⁻¹ for steelhead). Although prey capture ability appears to be more important than are prey capture costs in determining optimum foraging velocities, capture costs may be important for models that predict fish growth. Because coho are assumed to pay a greater swimming cost due to a less hydrodynamic body form, we also modeled 10 and 25% increases in hydrodynamic drag to assess the effect of increased prey capture costs. This reduced optimum velocity by 0 and 0.01 m∙s⁻¹, respectively. Habitat segregation among equal-sized coho and steelhead does not appear to be related to the effects of water velocity on their respective foraging abilities.     

Phytometric estimation of fertility of waterlogged rich-fen peats usingEpilobium hirsutum L.

Summary The above-ground net production of herbaceous vegetation in 16 stands of waterlogged rich fen in Broadland, Norfolk UK, has been compared with the growth ofEpilobium hirsutum seedlings (in controlled environment) on replicate peat samples from each site and with the chemical composition of extracts from sub-samples of each peat (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, inorganic P, inorganic N). There were no consistent or significant relationships between measured concentrations of major nutrients (K, N, P) in peat samples and netin situ production of the vegetation or with growth ofE. hirsutum seedlings on each peat. There was a strong, significant (p<0.001) relationship between above ground productionin situ and growth ofE. hirsutum seedlings. Seedling growth thus provided a simple, sensitive phytometric measure of fertility of the waterlogged peats (pH range 6.0–7.0). One possible limitation is the apparent sensitivity ofE. hirsutum seedlings to high manganese concentrations.     

Are unit charges always negligible?

 The electrostatic contribution to the reduction potentials due to the unit charges of ionizable residues largely explains the span in redox potentials in a series of high-potential Fe₄S₄ iron-sulfur proteins and mutants. This appears to be a lucky case in which other contributions (in general) larger than that due to unit charges cancel out. Received, accepted: 26 November 1996     

中国西北部干旱区NPP驱动力分析——以新疆伊犁河谷和天山山脉部分区域为例

NPP作为全球生态系统稳定与生态安全评估的重要参数之一,它的分布变化能间接反映区域生态平衡和自然环境演变。以新疆伊犁河谷和天山山脉部分区域为研究区,为探寻该区域NPP驱动因子及其驱动特点,对NPP、气候气象、土壤、植物和海拔数据做再处理与数理统计分析,研究发现:(1)该中纬度干旱区NPP的主导因素为水分与海拔。(2)相关性分析得出,年平均气温、年平均降水量、干燥度、湿润指数、高程和坡度与NPP有显著相关性(P0.01)。(3)不同环境温度下,各环境因子对NPP的驱动能力有差异,年均气温在0℃以下区域NPP最强驱动因子为海拔(P0.01),而高于0℃区域则为水分因子(P0.01)。(4)不同植被类型与土壤类型间NPP主要驱动因子及贡献率存在较大差异。(5)NPP极值随海拔的升高先增大后减小,海拔高度对NPP环境因子驱动能力起决定性作用。揭示了海拔因素对我国中纬度干旱区NPP的重要影响,揭示了各环境条件下气候与地形因子对NPP的影响特点,为干旱区NPP驱动力研究提供相关理论依据。     

近16年青海高原植被NPP时空格局变化及气候与人为因素的影响

采用2000—2015年MOD13Q1—16天合成的250 m分辨率NDVI时序数据,基于CASA改进模型估算了青海高原植被NPP,分析了近16年来植被NPP时空变化的特征与规律及其对气候因素变化的响应,并探讨不同区域生态保护工程建设的成效。研究结果表明:①青海高原植被NPP多年平均值242.50 gC m~(-2) a~(-1),空间上呈东高西低,南高北低,由西北向东南逐渐递增分布趋势;②2000—2015年,研究区年NPP分布在53.24—96.56 TgC,呈平稳增加,年增长率1.32 TgC/a;③气候的暖湿化是植被NPP增加的主要因素,降水、气温的耦合作用是青海高原植被NPP年际波动的重要因素,不同区域植被NPP受控因子存在差异;④不同生态保护工程的实施,对区域NPP时空格局及变化趋势存在不同程度的影响。其中,三江源地区年NPP上升趋势最为明显,环青海湖地区、东部地区次之,柴达木地区是最缓慢的地区。     

Interactive effect of elevated temperature and O<Subscript>3</Subscript> on antioxidant capacity and gas exchange in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> saplings

We studied the effects of slightly elevated temperature (T), O₃ concentration (O₃) and their combination (T + O₃) on the antioxidant defense, gas exchange and total leaf area of Betula pendula saplings in field conditions. During the second year of the experiment, T enhanced the total leaf area, net photosynthesis (P _n) and maximum capacity of carboxylation, redox state of ascorbate and total antioxidant capacity in the apoplast. O₃ did not affect the total leaf area, but P _n was slightly and g _s significantly reduced. The saplings responded to elevated O₃ level by closing the stomata and by developing leaves with a lower leaf area per mass, rather than by accumulating ascorbate in the apoplast. The effects of T and O₃ on total leaf area and P _n were counteractive. Elevated O₃ reduced the saplings’ ability to utilize the warmer growth environment by increasing the stomatal limitation for photosynthesis and by reducing the redox state of ascorbate in the apoplast in the combination treatment as compared to T alone.     

Conservation of nitrogen increases with precipitation across a major grassland gradient in the Central Great Plains of North America

Regional analyses and biogeochemical models predict that ecosystem N pools and N cycling rates must increase from the semi-arid shortgrass steppe to the sub-humid tallgrass prairie of the Central Great Plains, yet few field data exist to evaluate these predictions. In this paper, we measured rates of net N mineralization, N in above- and belowground primary production, total soil organic matter N pools, soil inorganic N pools and capture in resin bags, decomposition rates, foliar ¹⁵N, and N use efficiency (NUE) across a precipitation gradient. We found that net N mineralization did not increase across the gradient, despite more N generally being found in plant production, suggesting higher N uptake, in the wetter areas. NUE of plants increased with precipitation, and δ¹⁵N foliar values and resin-captured N in soils decreased, all of which are consistent with the hypothesis that N cycling is tighter at the wet end of the gradient. Litter decomposition appeared to play a role in maintaining this regional N cycling trend: litter decomposed more slowly and released less N at the wet end of the gradient. These results suggest that immobilization of N within the plant–soil system increases from semi-arid shortgrass steppe to sub-humid tallgrass prairie. Despite the fact that N pools increase along a bio-climatic gradient from shortgrass steppe to mixed grass and tallgrass prairie, this element becomes relatively more limiting and is therefore more tightly conserved at the wettest end of the gradient. Similar to findings from forested systems, our results suggest that grassland N cycling becomes more open to N loss with increasing aridity.     

Annual cycle of CO2 exchange over a reed (Phragmites australis) wetland in Northeast China

Net ecosystem exchange of CO₂ (NEE) was measured during 2005 using the eddy covariance (EC) technique over a reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.) wetland in Northeast China (121°54′E, 41°08′N). Diurnal NEE patterns varied markedly among months. Outside the growing season, NEE lacked a diurnal pattern and it fluctuated above zero with an average value of 0.07 mg CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ resulting from soil microbial activity. During the growing season, NEE showed a distinct V-like diel course, and the mean daily NEE was −7.48 ± 2.74 g CO₂ m⁻² day⁻¹, ranging from −13.58 g CO₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ (July) to −0.10 g CO₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ (October). An annual cycle was also apparent, with CO₂ uptake increasing rapidly in May, peaking in July, and decreasing from August. Monthly cumulative NEE ranged from −115 ± 24 g C m⁻² month⁻¹ (the reed wetland was a CO₂ sink) in July to 75 ± 16 g C m⁻² month⁻¹ (CO₂ source) in November. The annual CO₂ balance suggests a net uptake of −65 ± 14 g C m⁻² year⁻¹, mainly due to the gains in June and July. Cumulative CO₂ emission during the non-growing season was 327 g C m⁻², much greater than the absolute value of the annual CO₂ balance, which proves the importance of the wintertime CO₂ efflux at the study site. The ratio of ecosystem respiration (R_eco) to gross primary productivity (GPP) for this reed ecosystem was 0.95, indicating that 95% of plant assimilation was consumed by the reed plant or supported the activities of heterotrophs in the soil. Daytime NEE values during the growing season were closely related to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (r² > 0.63, p < 0.01). Both maximum ecosystem photosynthesis rate (A_max) and apparent quantum yield (α) were season-dependent, and reached their peak values in July (1.28 ± 0.11 mg CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹, 0.098 ± 0.027 μmol CO₂ μmol⁻¹ photon, respectively), corresponding to the observed maximum NEE in July. Ecosystem respiration (R_eco) relied on temperature and soil water content, and the mean value of Q₁₀ was about 2.4 with monthly variation ranging from 1.8 to 4.1 during 2005. Annual methane emission from this reed ecosystem was estimated to be about 3 g C m⁻² year⁻¹, and about 5% of the net carbon fixed by the reed wetland was released to the atmosphere as CH₄.